Panic found the group once again. A tiresome emotion, felt far too many times this week. Totodile looked around nervously as worry filled its heart.

"Where did it go?" questioned Tracey, scanning the nearby woods.

A feeling built within Louis, one that forced him to say words he wished he'd never have to repeat again.

"Something's wrong," he said. "You three wait here."

"Louis, hold on-" Taki almost finished the sentence before Louis spoke again.

"This is the last time, I promise," he reassured, stepping into the darkness.

"Taki…?" Tracey questioned.

The girl watched Louis fade into the night, concerned.

"He'll be ok," she answered.

Louis searched around every tree and bush, looking for the large Pokémon.

"Venusaur…!" he forced through a hushed breath. "Where are you?"

Silence found him, and yet, he refused to return to the group.

And then...he saw it.

A pinky-red flower, with white spots, shone in the moonlight. Venusaur's flower.

"Oh, there you are," spoke the relieved boy.

"Huh?" the words jolted Venusaur from her lunar gaze.

"Oh, Louis. You startled me," it said.

Louis trotted over and sat next to Venusaur.

"Sorry," he apologised, "Are you ok?"

Venusaur took a deep breath. A rasping accompanied the intake of air. The noise worried Louis.

"I am," she said, this time she spoke slower.

Louis gazed at her, reading wise, aged lines at the corners of her eyes, and wondered why he'd never noticed those before.

"You look kinda tired," he spoke.

The two sat silently for a while before Venusaur spoke again.

"Yes. Quite tired," it said. "I've walked many miles...many before you were born. I've seen sights that your kind wouldn't believe."

"Really?" questioned Louis.

"Yes," answered Venusaur. "...but this, Louis, this is my last walk."

"...I'm sorry?" asked the boy.

The words struck him like a tolled bell, echoing throughout his body, as a cold grip began to squeeze his heart.

"Are... you...leaving us?" offered Louis, knowing this wasn't the right question, but refusing to voice the words he needed.

The icy grip tightened in his chest.

She sat in silence for a while, the dawn air carried songs of waking birds, and the forest around them, stirring to life.

'No...this can't be,' thought Louis.

Soon the Venusaur rasped again.

"It was very important we met, young one. I had a feeling about you. That feeling led me to tell you of your father, and his involvement in your task."

Louis' eyes began to well up. He could sense what was coming.

"And ..." continued Venusaur, "That feeling also tells me to stop here."

"No...please get up," pleaded Louis. "W-...we can get you to a Pokémon Centre if you're sick."

"I'm not sick, Louis," replied Venusaur. "...I'm just...old."

"Child... your friends," the Pokémon continued, "It's not a mistake you met them..."

"The girl, her companion, and that boy care deeply for you, and that feeling will carry you through what awaits."

Louis relinquished his heart to the grip.

"What...awaits?" he quietly asked.

The elderly Venusaur turned her gaze to his.

"Darkness... then light."

Tears began to flow down Louis' face.

"You're leaving us, aren't you?" he stammered through a broken voice.

"Louis, don't be sad," she said, asking the impossible.

She placed a vine on the boy's shoulder.

"I've lived a very long life," continued Venusaur. "And for a while, I've known what's ahead for me."

"Find your strength in your friends." she finished.

"You're ready, and with them by your side, see this through!"

Louis was choked up on his emotions. So much so, that he quietly hyperventilated.

"Relax and breathe, boy," guided Venusaur. "Take in the eastern wind, close your eyes...and know your path."

Louis coughed back a whimper and took a deep breath.

As he closed his eyes, scenes distant played before him. A mountain, surrounded by darkness and below him, his friends, panicked but still there, and something else.

Louis jolted from the vision.

"W-...what…" he stuttered.

"Fear not, young one..." offered the wise creature in a soft, warm voice. "The Chief trusted you to this, and...I see...why."

Her vine began to loosen.

"No, no!" pleaded Louis. "Please don't go..."

The breeze warmed, and instead of a response, only the chirping of waking Spearows met his ears.

The vine gently slipped from Louis' shoulder and fell to the ground.

"...so those twinkles in the sky..," Taki continued, "...are stars! ...with little planets and moons orbiting them?!"

Tracey was stunned. He'd never truly thought about space and the fiery little sparkles that moved across the night sky.

A twig snapped in the distance and the two froze momentarily, before realizing it was Louis returning, alone.

Taki stared at the pale-faced boy approaching. She saw the tear tracks on Louis' face before Tracey could, and motioned for the child to round up Totodile.

"Louis, are you ok?" she asked.

"...no," responded Louis, solemnly.

"Are we ready to move?" asked the boy, his voice empty.

"Y-...yeah," answered Taki.

Saltwater began to form in Taki's eyes. She marched up to Louis and gripped him in a tight hug.

"We are here for you," she said softly to his ear.

Louis stared.

Ahead, Tracey chased a playful Totodile down a rough, dirt track. A track that led to the edge of the Bleakwood.

NOOOOOOOOOOO! NOT VENUSAUR! DX. I'm really going to miss her...

*sniff* Anyway...thanks...for reading. Is there something...*sniff* you enjoyed? Can you guess what happens next? Or...*sniff* what do you hope to see in future chapters? If so, go ahead and leave...a review explaining any of these reasons. (Please don't leave hurtful reviews)

*sniff sniff* If you enjoy this story and don't want to miss out on future chapters, feel free to follow/favourite this story so you will be notified when a new chapter is released. Heck, feel free to share this story with your friends.

Thanks again. See you...*sniff* next time.

*Crying*